January 23, 2012 @ 0359 UT: Sunspot 1402 erupts and unleashes a long-duration M9-class solar flare (almost an X-flare) and a earth-facing CME. Accelerated by the event, an S3-class radiation storm (proton showers) "swarmed" our planet. We have not witnessed this type of high energy radiation storm in approximately 7 years. The CME arrived at earth on January 24th at approximately 1500 UT, causing a G1-class geomagnetic storm.
January 27, 2012 @ 1837 UT: Sunspot 1402 erupts again, this time with X1.6-class signatures. Because sunspot 1402 is leaving view of planet Earth, crossing to the far-side of our sun, the CME was non-earthward. However, on Jan. 27-29th Earth again experienced proton showers as an S1/S2 radiation storm was triggered by the X1.6-class solar flare.
Sun-diving comet seen at south-eastern region of sun on January 26-27th.
Solar flare events
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2012 01 22: x4 C-class
2012 01 23: x1 C-class and x1 M-class
2012 01 24: x3 C-class
2012 01 26: x7 C-class
2012 01 27: x5 C-class and x1 X-class
2012 01 28: x1 C-class
Credit & Reference to above can be found @ Daily Solar Data:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/quar_DSD.txt
